Erica Chidi, the co-founder and CEO of Loom, shared that doctors recently removed her uterine fibroids, which had grown to the size equivalent to that of a six months pregnancy. Her battle with uterine fibroids has been going on for six years.
She admitted that battling fibroids is a lonely journey as they are "invisible obstacles." Chidi said she started experiencing heavy menstrual bleeding, persistent bloating, cramps, and exhaustion six years ago. At the time, she shared that she had no idea that she had symptoms of uterine fibroids, the non-cancerous tumors that grow in the uterus or the womb.
She said that she went to her OB-GYN for an annual check-up. When she told her doctor that she had a large, hard lump in her stomach, the doctor cleared her for a transvaginal ultrasound, an imaging procedure used for examining the vagina, uterus, fallopian tubes, ovaries, and bladder, ABC 13 reports.
The doctors found ten uterine fibroids. She said the largest was the size of a grapefruit, and it stretched her uterus to about ten weeks of pregnancy. She then understood why she was experiencing bloating and heavy bleeding.
Undergoing treatment
After learning about her condition, she said she chose to undergo endometrial ablation, a "minimally invasive surgical procedure used to treat heavy menstrual bleeding." The procedure may shrink the inner lining or the endometrium but not remove the uterine fibroids. Chidi said that the operation was successful, and her symptoms were gone.
But the relief was just temporary. Two years later, the bleeding, bloating, and discomfort returned, and it came back with a vengeance.
This time, doctors found 23 uterine fibroids that had grown equal to the size of a six-month pregnant woman. She said that for almost two years, she walked around like a six-month pregnant woman without the fantastic feeling of pregnancy, Good Morning America reports.
She then took a more aggressive procedure, a myomectomy, to surgically remove her uterine fibroids. After a three-hour operation, Chidi said she felt better than she had been in years. Although it may take six more months for her to recover from the surgery fully, she said she feels like there is less bloating and heaviness and more energy to do things.
Fibroids are common among black women
According to Stat News, an estimated 26 million women have fibroids, and 15 million suffer from symptoms like heavy menstrual bleeding, bladder problems, intense pelvic pressure or pain, and fertility issues. Black women are the most vulnerable as they develop fibroids earlier in life, create more tumors, and experience more intense symptoms.
In 2007, the late Rep. Stephanie Tubbs Jones (D-Ohio) called for the passage of a bill that increased research funding and public education on uterine fibroids. Tubb-Jones said that she had her symptoms at 14 but did not have a diagnosis until she was 25. Finding a treatment path proved equally difficult because information on the treatment options was not accessible, and some doctors would dismiss her experiences and concerns.
As of last year, her bill has not been passed.
